A Bad Brew: Ideology, Politics, and Faith

"And when a Christian becomes a disciple of the ideology, he has lost the faith."

The above quote from Pope Francis, spoken a few years ago, is pertinent, particularly as we approach the upcoming presidential elections.

The Pope further explained: "In ideologies, there is not Jesus: in his tenderness, his love, his meekness. And ideologies are rigid, always."

In a world increasingly divided by polarizing viewpoints, these words serve as a sad and troublesome reminder of the dangers of rigid ideological thinking, especially for those who profess to follow Christ.

By its very nature, ideology moves us further from people and deeper into "our" ideas of how things are viewed best. It creates a mental framework that often leaves little room for nuance or complexity. Instead, it tends to paint the world in stark black and white and demands clear winners and losers. At this time, we see this most play out in the unwillingness to entertain an idea, regardless of how good it might be, if it is not a tool for a person's particular party to win, whatever a win looks like (a recent example can be found in a long and hard-fought attempt at a bi-partisan border bill which was shot down for political advantage). This simplistic worldview can be alluring in its clarity, but it often comes at the cost of compassion, understanding, and genuine connection with others. Oh, and what actually might be true.

When our conversations and interactions begin to move into the realm of ideology, it becomes incredibly challenging to embody the qualities Jesus exemplified – tenderness, love, and humility. These attributes, which are at the core of the Christian faith, often become casualties in the pursuit of ideological purity. This is probably at the core of what we are seeing now. Christian people who would otherwise hold to a virtue set that is clearly Christian who are now influenced into a purely partisan viewpoint and, at the same time, baptize these views to justify the compromise.

Pope Francis continued, saying:

"And when a Christian becomes a disciple of the ideology, he has lost the faith: he is no longer a disciple of Jesus, he is a disciple of this attitude of thought... For this reason, Jesus said to them: “You have taken away the key of knowledge.” (Luke 11:52) The knowledge of Jesus is transformed into an ideological and also moralistic knowledge because these close the door with many requirements."

This transformation of faith into ideology is subtle but profound. It replaces the living, breathing relationship with Christ and others with a set of rigid rules and beliefs. It shifts the focus from loving God and neighbor to defending a particular worldview at all costs.

To better understand this concept, consider the definition of ideology:

"An ideology is a system of ideas and ideals, especially one that forms the basis of economic or political theory and policy."

While ideologies can provide a framework for understanding the world, they can also become intellectual prisons, restricting our ability to see beyond our preconceived notions and truly engage with the complexity of human experience.

As Christ’s followers, we are called to a different path, a different way – one of humility, love, and openness to others. This doesn't mean abandoning our beliefs or values but rather holding them with an open hand, always ready to listen, learn, and grow.

In a world that seems to thrive on ideological conflict, the most radical act we can take is to step back from rigid thinking and embrace the messy, beautiful complexity of being human. A friend of mine would maybe say, seeing others as relatives. By embracing genuine dialogue, understanding, and allowing the transformative power of Christ's love to work in and through us, we can rise to the challenge set by Jesus to become true peacemakers. Without this, the task will be nearly impossible.

We must be aware that all ideas are not created equal. Some exchange Christ's gentle Kingdom for some form of success. Some baptize weapons of a party in place of virtue and character. We must endeavor to be disciples not of ideology but of Jesus—carrying His tenderness, love, and kindness into every conversation and interaction we have, every group we validate, and every, if I can say it, vote we make.